HAYASHI, Larry and Kim

Furthering Bible translation through training the next generation of language workers at CanIL, Larry has been with Wycliffe Bible Translators for more than 30 years. Kim knew she wanted to be involved with Wycliffe since early elementary school! Kim and Larry met at Oregon SIL—a Wycliffe training school—in 1986 and have been married since 1990. They have served in Cameroon, and at SIL’s international headquarters in Texas. They have been serving at the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL) since 2001. Larry and Kim have two grown-up kids—Anna, married to Josh, and Matt.

Kim has a personality that loves to connect with people. She meets with students to listen, encourage, mentor and pray, helping to build community and providing input into the spiritual life of the students.

Larry teaches a field methods course which pulls together all of the other prerequisite linguistics courses. Students apply what they have previously learned to analyze the sound system and grammar of a non-Western language and produce a dictionary. Students learn to use language analysis software that is also used in Bible translation field situations. Larry also teaches a lexicography course—the art and science of making dictionaries. Dictionaries are a very useful tool for Bible translation, language preservation and literacy development.

As well as instructing, Larry is the assistant vice-president of administration. He is involved in CanIL communications and student recruitment from Canada and the U.S. When other schools are winding down for summer, CanIL is recruiting students to come test the waters of Bible translation and linguistics. CanIL’s summer program is very intensive, both in academics and community life.

Thank you for partnering with Larry and Kim at CanIL, as they train students preparing to be sent around the world by Wycliffe and other Bible translation and mission organizations.